In the summer of 2024, the quiet community of Crossville, Alabama, was unsettled by the tragic death of Kristy Gladden Hancock. On June 25th, the 38-year-old female was discovered deceased at her home located on County Road 221. Authorities responding to a call about an unconscious woman found her with a fatal gunshot wound. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, along with officers from Collinsville and Crossville, began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
As investigators processed the scene and interviewed individuals, a person of interest emerged. Neighbors reported encountering a man in the vicinity, who was later identified as 27-year-old James Michael Howard Jr. Upon questioning, it was determined that Howard had been at Hancock's residence earlier that day.
Following a thorough investigation that included multiple interviews and evidence collection from the scene, authorities arrested James Michael Howard Jr. He was subsequently charged with murder and public intoxication in connection with Kristy Gladden Hancock's death. According to court documents, the murder is believed to have occurred around 7:00 a.m. on that Tuesday, with Howard's arrest taking place just before 9:00 a.m. the following day. He was then booked into the DeKalb County Detention Center.
